Man killed in I-95 wreck identified, search under way for missing dog

A search is under way for a dog that went missing Monday after a single-vehicle wreck on Interstate 95 that killed its owner.

The Highway Patrol on Friday identified the owner as William F. Schlesinger, 57, of Arlington, Virginia.

Schlesinger was driving a Chevrolet pickup truck that was traveling north about 12:05 p.m. As the truck approached the Rock Hill Road overpass, just north of the N.C. 24 exit, the vehicle veered into the median, crossed the southbound lanes and, at some point, began sliding sideways, Trooper W.C. Townsend said.

The truck overturned and slammed into a tree. Schlesinger was pronounced dead at the scene.

“Based on vehicle data, he was traveling at a low rate of speed, lower than he should have been on the interstate,” Townsend said Friday.

He estimated Schlesinger was traveling between 50 and 55 mph in the 65-mph zone.

The data showed that Schlesinger never touched the gas or brake pedals, Townsend said, indicating he may have fallen asleep or had a medical episode. An autopsy was not done, he said.

A medical examiner determined that Schlesinger died from blunt force trauma, Townsend said.

Neither Townsend or other first responders recall seeing Nellie, a light brown pit bull-boxer mix at the crash.

The dog weighs between 60 and 75 pounds and is friendly, but doesn’t care for other dogs, said Hugh Dobson.

He said he and Schlesinger were close friends, having known each other for about 40 years.

When he learned that Nellie was missing, he drove more than 300 miles from his home in Northern Virginia to Cumberland County and was at the wreck scene Friday looking for the dog.

Schlesinger rescued the dog about four years ago, Dobson said.

Anyone with information about Nellie can call Dobson at 202-374-2263.

Staff writer Nancy McCleary can be reached at nmccleary@fayobserver.com or 486-3568.

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